The Northwest Voice

larger view

I would like to nominate my daughter, Leah Seybert, for Northwest Voice Youth Athlete of the Month.

She started playing sports when she was 7 years old. First was soccer, then baseball, and finally the sport she loves -- basketball.

In the fourth grade she played on the school team and we discovered that she had a real talent for it. To improve her skills, she started playing for club teams. Her love of the game has kept her enthusiastic and given her a drive to excel. At one point she was playing on two traveling teams at once. I remember one weekend both of her teams were playing at the same tournament out of town. She would play a game with one team and then we would go to another school and play again for the other team. She played four games in one day that weekend.

As a high school freshman and then a sophomore she played on the girls varsity basketball team.

Leah's perseverance on and off the court has been her most admirable quality. Leah lost her best friend six years ago: her dad. Although her heart was broken, her will was not. Her dad was her biggest cheerleader and he never missed a game. They did everything together. I thought losing him would put her over the edge, but with Leah's faith in God and determination she has overcome obstacles that would be hard even for an adult to overcome. Leah has a wonderful sense of humor and a big heart. She is not only active in sports but also in our community. She volunteered for two years at the homeless shelter, and always did so with a smile. She also taught children at our church.

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, and that is certainly true for Leah.